System and method for activating a surgical instrument, and foot switch assembly for controlling a surgical instrument

Abstract

Provided herein is a system with a safety lock that is configured to at least partially prevent use of a surgical instrument. A foot switch assembly is operably configured to control the surgical instrument and has multiple switches. A memory is present for storing a predetermined switch sequence associated with the switches of the foot switch assembly, as well as a control unit that is configured to determine whether a series of input switch actuations from the foot switch assembly corresponds to the predetermined switch sequence, and if so, deactivating the safety lock in response to the series of input switch actuations corresponding to the predetermined switch sequence. Also provided are various embodiments of a foot switch assembly for controlling a surgical instrument.

1 . A foot switch assembly for controlling a surgical instrument, the foot switch assembly comprising:
 a base extending from a forward end to a rear end,   a heel rest at the rear end of the base with an upper surface, and   a moveable foot pedal arranged adjacent to the heel rest,   wherein the moveable foot pedal is mounted to the base via a hinge having a pivot axis, which is centered with respect to the upper surface of the heel rest.   
     
     
         2 . The foot switch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel rest is fixed relative to the base. 
     
     
         3 . The foot switch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel rest is rotatably mounted with respect to the base, and an axis of rotation about which the heel rest is configured to rotate, extends substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the heel rest. 
     
     
         4 . The foot switch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises a first hinge assembly configured to allow rotation of the moveable foot pedal around a first hinge axis which extends parallel to and substantially coincides with the upper surface of the heel rest. 
     
     
         5 . The foot switch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein travel of the moveable foot pedal in a vertical direction is less than 15°. 
     
     
         6 . The foot switch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises a second hinge assembly configured to allow rotation of the moveable foot pedal around a second hinge axis which extends substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the heel rest. 
     
     
         7 . The foot switch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein travel of the moveable foot pedal in a horizontal direction is between −10° and 10°. 
     
     
         8 . The foot switch assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more adjustable width limiters on a top surface of the moveable foot pedal. 
     
     
         9 . The foot switch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a channel extending in a forward-backward direction, the channel defined by opposing side walls, and wherein the moveable foot pedal is arranged within the channel between the opposing side walls. 
     
     
         10 . The foot switch assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a multi-actuation switch and an actuation body having a pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to the moveable foot pedal and comprising two actuation surfaces substantially perpendicular to each other and extending along the pivot axis, wherein the actuation body is configured to operate the multi-actuation switch by rotation over the pivot axis in a first direction. 
     
     
         11 . The foot switch assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the actuation body further comprises a second actuation surface extending along the pivot axis, and the foot switch assembly comprises a second switch configured to operate by rotation of the actuation body over the pivot axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         12 . The foot switch assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the second actuation surface and one of the two actuation surfaces adjacent to the pivot axis form an angle of less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The foot switch assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a left front pedal switch and a right front pedal switch, operable by respective left and right side surfaces of the moveable foot pedal.